A sigh slips from my lips. "Am I not fully human anymore?" I wonder silently, my mind swirling with the events of the past week.
"You might not be human, but deep down, you still feel like you are," a voice answers. I freeze and glance to my right, noticing a figure under the blankets. Is it Azazel? Mira?
I pull back the blanket to reveal Caleif, her eyes piercing into my soul, and I heave a sigh of relief.
Her reaction is unexpected; she reaches out and pulls me close, pressing me against her soft chest. "Even if you're not human anymore, you'll always be the same knucklehead I fell in love with," she whispers softly.
I feel like I'm in heaven, beep. The gauntlet chimes out as I pull up my arm and see the gauntlet is at 90%. "Oh god, I swear I'm in heaven—hell? Which would I choose now? Eh, fuck it." I mutter as I squeeze back pulling myself further into her cleavage.
"Someone sure is spry today, but that's a good thing. I'd hate for you not to have any energy after yesterday. " she says as I feel her hand slowly run down my chest ever so softly, like a river that had no end.
As she makes it down to my groin, she whispers in my ear. "wake up" quietly at first and then "WAKE UP""
Suddenly I jolts up out of bed I look around and see myself alone in the bed. "It was a dream?! Damn it! I was so close!" I yell out in frustration as I see feet at the bottom of my sight, I follow them up and see that it's Caleif.
I sink into the bed immediately. "Oh no, does she know? Was I talking in my sleep?" I wonder, feeling sweat trickle down my body like a heavy rain.
"I was surprised you didn't come down for breakfast, so I brought some to you," she says, holding a plate I only now notice.
"Eat up, we're heading to the academy today," she adds, sitting on my bed and looking at me.
I stop as I reach for a pancake. "Academy? What academy?" I inquire while gradually bringing the pancake to my mouth and stuffing it in completely.
"I'm planning something a bit unconventional," Caleif says, giving me a kiss on the cheek. "I've decided to take you to the academy where monsters go."
"Monster academy? Seriously? I assumed monsters, demons, or whatever would just inherently know things. I never imagined they had an academy," I reply, puzzled, with a mouthful of pancake.
I swallow the last bit of pancake and wash it down with a mouthful of orange juice, my mind racing. "Wait, wait, wait, what do you mean monsters go to an academy, did i actually hear you right?" I ask, my brow furrowed with confusion. "Are we talking like a school for teaching them how to eat humans or something?"
Caleif chuckles, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Not quite. It's more of a training ground for young monsters to hone their skills, learn about their heritage, and understand their powers. Just like humans go to school, so do we—albeit with a few more... interesting subjects."
I lean back against the headboard, crossing my arms. "Interesting subjects? Like what? How to scare the pants off unsuspecting mortals? Or maybe advanced demonology 101?"
She rolls her eyes playfully, leaning closer. "Definitely a bit of both, plus combat training, magic theory, and creature history. You'd actually fit in quite well. They're not just teaching them to hunt; they're training them to coexist with the human world."
The thought is both intriguing and terrifying. "So you want me to go there and... what, learn how to be a better monster?"
"Essentially, yes," she replies, her tone turning serious. "You have a lot of potential, Kamen. I want you to be ready for whatever comes next—because trust me, there are plenty of things in our world that want to take advantage of your current situation."
I grimace at the thought. "Like Azazel?"
Caleif nods, a shadow crossing her features. "Exactly. Angels and demons aren't the only ones interested in you. There are those who might see you as a threat—especially after your recent awakening."
I frown, the last remnants of breakfast suddenly feeling heavy in my stomach. "Great. Just what I wanted to hear."
"Don't think of it as a burden. Think of it as an opportunity," she replies, her voice soothing. "You're stronger than you realize, but you'll need guidance to tap into that power fully."
I want to argue, to push back against the idea of being trained like some kind of monster, but deep down, I know she's right. "So what do I need to do?" I ask, feeling a surge of determination rising in my chest.
Caleif smiles, a glint of pride dancing in her eyes. "First, finish your breakfast. Then, we head to the academy. Once we arrive, you'll meet some of the instructors and other monsters like you. Who knows? You might even make a few friends."
The idea of having friends—monsters or otherwise—feels foreign but oddly comforting. After everything that's happened, I think I could use the camaraderie. "Friends, huh? I guess that could be nice," I say, trying to envision a few more familiar faces in my life.
As I get to my feet, a thought strikes me. "What's the catch? There's got to be something in it for you."
Caleif raises an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Always looking for a hidden agenda. I like that about you." She leans in closer, lowering her voice. "If you thrive at the academy, it means our chances of success against the threats we face increase. Plus, you'll be better equipped to handle your transformation. It's a win-win."
I take a moment to digest her words, realizing how much she cares about my well-being—about our survival. "Okay, then. Let's do this. But promise me you won't let them eat me alive," I add, smirking.
"Deal," she replies, her smile returning. "Now hurry up! I want to get there before lunch, and once I introduce you to the head master, you're own your own from there."
I grab another pancake, scarfing it down as we head toward the door. As we step out into the sunlight, I can't shake the feeling that this academy might just be the beginning of something monumental—something that could change everything. But I'm not sure if it'll be for the better.
I squint against the brightness, the brilliance of the day contrasting sharply with the murky chaos of my mind. Today we're heading to the academy—a place where monsters like me are supposedly trained, and the thought sends a mix of excitement and dread coursing through me.